The material and findings used below is extracted from 28 too Many's October 2016 edition of Key FGM findings in Nigeria.Facts

In Nigeria, the estimated prevalence of FGM among women aged 15 to 49 is 24.8%.

20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone FGM.

This represents 10% of the global total. Zones in Nigeria with the highest FGM prevalence are South East (49%) and South West (47.5%). Osun State records the highest prevalence at 76.6%. North East Zone has the lowest prevalence (2.9%) and the State of Katsina in North West Zone records the lowest prevalence at 0.1%. However, prevalence figures according to place of residence may not be an indicator of where FGM has actually taken place.

Data shows that 32.3% of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 living in urban areas have undergone FGM, compared with 19.3% of women living in rural areas.

Prevalence of FGM among girls under 14, however, is almost equal between those living in urban areas (16.8%) and those in rural areas (17%).

Why

The main reason that is given for practising FGM in Nigeria is to ‘preserve virginity/prevent extra-marital sex’. This was cited by 11.2% of women and 17.3% of men who had heard of FGM in Nigeria, particularly in the oldest age-group (45 to 49).

Women then cited ‘social acceptance’ and ‘better marriage prospects’ as reasons for practicing FGM. ‘More sexual pleasure for a man was also cited by men.

Although FGM is not required by any religious scripture, overall, 15% of women and 23.6% of men believe it is required by their religion, particularly men (39.9%) and women (33.1%) practising traditionalist religions and men (30%) practising Islam.

Age FGM is most likely to take place in Nigeria before a girl reaches the age of five. Girls are less likely to be cut after the age of 15. Many girls are cut as infants (16% of girls aged 0 to 14 undergo FGM before their first birthday), and most women (82%) aged 15 to 49 who have had FGM state that they were cut before the age of five. Types

24.9% have experienced angurya (scraping of tissue surrounding the opening of the vagina);

Type III is highest among Catholic, other Christian and traditionalist women; angurya and gushiri (Type IV) are most common among Muslim women.

Type I (cut, no flesh removed/nicked) - 5.8%

Type II (cut, flesh removed) - 62.6%

Type III (sewn closed, infibulation) - 5.3%

Undetermined/Not sure/Don’t know - 26.3%

Practitioners

86.6% of girls and 79.5% of women are cut by ‘traditional agents’. The majority of these agents are what the DHS calls ‘traditional circumcisers’. However, 2.5% of these girls and 7% of these women were cut by ‘traditional birth attendants’. Of girls and women who have undergone FGM, medical professionals (doctors, nurses/midwives and other health professionals) cut 11.9% and 12.7% respectively. Such figures suggest that ‘traditional agents’ may now be used slightly more often.

Law

In May 2015, a federal law was passed in Nigeria banning FGM and other harmful traditional practices, but this Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) only applies to the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. It is up to each of the 36 states to pass similar legislation in its territory. 13 states already have similar laws in place; however, there remains an inconsistency between the passing and enforcement of laws.

Attitudes

Overall, 64.3% of women and 62.1% of men believe that FGM should be stopped in Nigeria. The strongest support among women for an end to the practice is from those who have not undergone FGM (76.2%), when compared with those who have (50%). Attitudes towards FGM among women aged 15 to 49 also vary according to residence, education and wealth.

Most at risk

Although from available data the prevalence of FGM appears to be highest among wealthier, better-educated Nigerian women who live in urban areas, these same women are the least likely to have their daughters cut before the age of 15. This same group of women is also most in favour of ending the practice.

​Conversely, although the prevalence of FGM appears to be lowest among poorer Nigerian women with little or no education who live in rural areas, these women are more likely to have their daughters cut. In other words, this cohort is the most likely to continue the practice, and shows the highest level of support for its continuation. ​